Location determination and registration methodology for smart devices based on direction and proximity and usage of the same

Abstract

Described methods and apparatus for a location determination and registration methodology for smart devices that involves creating a registration map of a bounded space, with various smart devices located therein in fixed positions, and for each smart device relative positions in which a gestural input device can communicate with it, and relative distances, signal strengths and the like associated therewith for each smart device being part of the registration map. Once created, the registration map can be used to allow for a particular smart device to communicate with the gestural input platform when that is intended and the two are properly oriented relative to each other.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method of interacting a wearable sensor device with a plurality of wirelessly connected electronic devices within a bounded area in an interior of a building through a controllable device, the wearable sensor device including one or more sensors and being sized for wearing on a human body, each of the one or more sensors emitting sensor data to the controllable device, and wherein the controllable device includes a detection unit that operates upon the sensor data to determine a pose of at least a portion of the human body that is wearing the wearable sensor device and is capable of interacting with the controllable device, the detection unit including a detection processor, automatically operating under software control, that inputs, aggregates and fuses the sensor data from each of the one or more sensors to determine the pose of at least the portion of the human body that is wearing the wearable sensor device based upon a locality of said one or more sensors, the method comprising the steps of:
 determining a bounded area within the interior of the building that contains the plurality of wirelessly connected electronic devices; 
 creating a mapping for usage by the controllable device of the bounded space that includes, for each of a plurality of positions of the wearable sensor device within the bounded space, baseline mapping data that provides a direction and proximity of the wearable sensor device to each of the plurality of wirelessly connected electronic devices from each of the plurality of positions when the wearable sensor device is pointed at one of the plurality of wirelessly connected electronic devices, and, wherein the baseline mapping data includes wireless signal strength and at least one of visual images and rangefinder readings; 
 after creation of the mapping, selecting the particular one of the plurality of wirelessly connected electronic devices for interaction based upon the baseline mapping data and a current position of the wearable sensor device within the bounded area, and 
 using the wearable sensor device to interact with the particular one of the plurality of wirelessly connected electronic devices based upon predetermined user gestures that are identified based upon the sensor data from the wearable sensor device, and wherein every time the wearable sensor device interacts with the particular one of the plurality of wirelessly connected electronic devices, further mapping data is appended to the baseline mapping data that corresponds to the particular one of the plurality of wirelessly connected electronic devices. 
 
     
     
       2. The method according to  claim 1  wherein the mapping includes a wireless protocol that is used between the wearable sensor device and the controllable device and between the controllable device and each of the plurality of wirelessly connected electronic devices. 
     
     
       3. The method according to  claim 2  wherein a first wireless protocol that is used between the wearable sensor device and the controllable device is different than a second wireless protocol used between the controllable device and one of the plurality of wirelessly connected electronic devices. 
     
     
       4. The method according to  claim 3  wherein the first wireless protocol is Bluetooth and the second wireless protocol is Wi-Fi. 
     
     
       5. The method according to  claim 1  wherein the mapping includes a wireless protocol that is used between the wearable sensor device and the controllable device and between the controllable device and each of the plurality of wirelessly connected electronic devices. 
     
     
       6. The method according to  claim 5  wherein a first wireless protocol that is used between the wearable sensor device and the controllable device is different than a second wireless protocol used between the controllable device and one of the plurality of wirelessly connected electronic devices. 
     
     
       7. The method according to  claim 6  wherein the first wireless protocol is Bluetooth and the second wireless protocol is Wi-Fi. 
     
     
       8. The method according to  claim 1  wherein the baseline mapping data includes each of visual images, rangefinder readings and wireless signal strength. 
     
     
       9. The method according to  claim 1  wherein the plurality of positions in the step of creating include those where the wearable sensor device will normally be disposed when interacting with each of the plurality wirelessly connected electronic devices. 
     
     
       10. A method of interacting a wearable sensor device with a plurality of wirelessly connected electronic devices within a bounded area in an interior of a building through a controllable device, the wearable sensor device including one or more sensors and being sized for wearing on a human body, each of the one or more sensors emitting sensor data to the controllable device, and wherein the controllable device includes a detection unit that operates upon the sensor data to determine a pose of at least a portion of the human body that is wearing the wearable sensor device and is capable of interacting with the controllable device, the detection unit including a detection processor, automatically operating under software control, that inputs, aggregates and fuses the sensor data from each of the one or more sensors to determine the pose of at least the portion of the human body that is wearing the wearable sensor device based upon a locality of said one or more sensors, the method comprising the steps of:
 determining a bounded area within the interior of the building that contains the plurality of wirelessly connected electronic devices; 
 creating a mapping for usage by the controllable device of the bounded space that includes, for each of a plurality of positions of the wearable sensor device within the bounded space, baseline mapping data that provides a direction and proximity of the wearable sensor device to each of the plurality of wirelessly connected electronic devices from each of the plurality of positions when the wearable sensor device is pointed at one of the plurality of wirelessly connected electronic devices, wherein the baseline mapping data includes at least one of visual images, rangefinder readings, and wireless signal strength; 
 after creation of the mapping, selecting the particular one of the plurality of wirelessly connected electronic devices for interaction based upon the baseline mapping data and a current position of the wearable sensor device within the bounded area, and 
 using the wearable sensor device to interact with the particular one of the plurality of wirelessly connected electronic devices based upon predetermined user gestures that are identified based upon the sensor data from the wearable sensor device, wherein every time the wearable sensor device interacts with the particular one of the plurality of wirelessly connected electronic devices, further mapping data is appended to the baseline mapping data that corresponds to the particular one of the plurality of wirelessly connected electronic devices. 
 
     
     
       11. A method of interacting a wearable sensor device with a plurality of wirelessly connected electronic devices within a bounded area in an interior of a building through a controllable device, the wearable sensor device including one or more sensors and being sized for wearing on a human body, each of the one or more sensors emitting sensor data to the controllable device, and wherein the controllable device includes a detection unit that operates upon the sensor data to determine a pose of at least a portion of the human body that is wearing the wearable sensor device and is capable of interacting with the controllable device, the detection unit including a detection processor, automatically operating under software control, that inputs, aggregates and fuses the sensor data from each of the one or more sensors to determine the pose of at least the portion of the human body that is wearing the wearable sensor device based upon a locality of said one or more sensors, the method comprising the steps of:
 determining a bounded area within the interior of the building that contains the plurality of wirelessly connected electronic devices; 
 creating a mapping for usage by the controllable device of the bounded space that includes, for each of a plurality of positions of the wearable sensor device within the bounded space, baseline mapping data that provides a direction and proximity of the wearable sensor device to each of the plurality of wirelessly connected electronic devices from each of the plurality of positions when the wearable sensor device is pointed at one of the plurality of wirelessly connected electronic devices, wherein the baseline mapping data includes at least one of visual images, rangefinder readings, and wireless signal strength; 
 after creation of the mapping, selecting the particular one of the plurality of wirelessly connected electronic devices for interaction based upon the baseline mapping data and a current position of the wearable sensor device within the bounded area, and 
 using the wearable sensor device to interact with the particular one of the plurality of wirelessly connected electronic devices based upon predetermined user gestures that are identified based upon the sensor data from the wearable sensor device, wherein after the step of selecting, if the one of the plurality of wirelessly connected electronic devices is an unintended device, further including the steps of: 
 triggering a disconnection with the one of the plurality of wirelessly connected electronic devices; and 
 performing the step of selecting again so that an intended device becomes selected.